showcase

The WGA strike is, indeed, an inconvenience for the major television networks down South. Production of most major dramas has been halted as a result of the now two-month old dispute. Although, we can all agree that we would like to see this problem resolved and prevent the potential layoffs that could result from the strike, as Canadians we can also–perhaps somewhat naïvely–hope for Canadian networks to see this as an opportunity to develop homegrown dramas. To their defense, even if they wanted to take advantage of the situation, two months is admittedly too little time to create a drama and have it ready to air next week.

It is certainly refreshing to realize that purely original Canadian TV content is not only about coming-of-age teenagers attending an unoriginally named high school and facing issues most of us haven't even faced at the age of 30. It is not simply about the misadventures of a bunch of gas station owners and friends in a Canadian western town. It isn't just about showing the misfortunes of a Muslim community in a mythically close-minded prairie society. Canadian television drama has the potential of being much more than just that, and every once in a while, a remarkably achieved show comes and goes unnoticed. This is usually not to be expected from CTV, CBC or Global. As is the case with Slings and Arrows, quality Canadian dramas hang in there, away from mainstream over-the-air Canadian television.